Portable electric signal light



May-4, 1948. R. L. FALGE PORTABLE ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1945 R. L. FALGE INVENTOR.

May 4, 1948.

R. L. FALGE PORTABLE ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT Filed July 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E m m L R INVEN TOR.

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PORTABLE ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHT Filed July 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 R. L. FALGE mmvroa lamps and more pmicularly to flashing Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v I romance nnrfi'f'r tzz smmr. incur Raymond L. False, Bethesda, Md. Application July 19, ms. sci-m n. ocean '1 Claims. (01. 117-329) '1 This invention relates generally to electric si nal lights provided with selectively-oscillatable media for changing color or for retracting or otherwise modifying the light beam.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a signal light with a plurality of reflectors (either 2, 8, 4 or more may be used) to give higher visibility with lower power consumption, and at the same time with less weight towards greater portability.

Other objects include adjustable angles of viewing, as well as means for spreading the beam for a selected part of the light, together with dimming by mechanical rather than electrical means.

Still further objects are to selectively change color i-llters, dimmers and beam spreaders by mechanism incorporated intothe unit, with operation possible with one hand.

Again other objects are to provide a trigger switch which more nearly approaches the operation of a telegraph key than any of the commercial switches employed on lights of this type. and also to provide a safety loch-oh" on the trigger which also locks-on for continuous burning of the filament.

Additional objects are to provide a tell-tale signal to give the operator an indication of the color of light emanating from the barrel, in addition to indicating the dots and dashes sent.

A further object is to incorporate a self-contsined power supply into a stock which may be added to steady the unit for n purposes.

Objects also are to improve the rear closure so as to ease the lamp replacement problem, to improve the non-reflecting rear ring sight.

Still other objects will be evident from the following detailed description of the accom 1 drawings. in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with the front closure removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the rear housing plate open.

FigAisafullsectiononthelinel-tinl'lg.

1, showing the switch and triaser in "on" position.

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the same line as Fig. 4, but with switch and in "on position.

Fig. 6 is a section through the actual gun taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4, showing mechanism for locking switch and trigger in "oil" position.

m. 7 is a section on the same line as Fig. 6, a reflectors 2s and as, having their front periphtrigger mechanism 50 2 but showing the mechanism in the position for locking switch and trigger in on" position,

Fig. 8 is a detailed elevation of two of the color change filters, one in open and the other in closed 5 position, with the housing cut away.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the elevation shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views of the telltale device taken on line ill-i0 of Fig. 2, and

19 line li-li of Fig. 1, respectively.

Fig. 12 is a view of the front closure.

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9, but showing the invention adapted for the use of three reflectors with color filters, instead of two.

15 Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the handle of the gun, to which has been added a stock with a selfcontained power-supply.

Fig. 15 is a rear view of the part shown in Fig. 14.

m Fig. 16 is a perspective of the rear sight.

95 and with onlytwo of the filters therebetween,

one of which filters is shown in alternate position in dotted lines.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of certain parts shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 20 is an exploded rear view of one of the reflectors and its bulb.

Fig. 21 is a detail of the bearing on which the plate is secured, for rotation on the spindle.

Fig. 22 is a detail of the pivot by which the filter-holding spring is attached to the filter.

Referring to the drawings, the hollow cylindrical housing it is provided with front and rear closures ii and 82, respectively, of which it is secured by a hinge i2 and latch (not shown) to housing it, while ii is removably secured to one end of a shaft or spindle it, which is supported axially in the housing, by reason of projecting rigidity through the center of a plate M fixedly mounted in the housing.

between plate it and front plate ii, are a plurality of parallel-spaced filters l5. l6, l1 and i8,

' each of which fllters has two circularopenings l9 and 20 which may be shifted into, and out of. alignment with the two openings 23 and 24 in fixed plate M. A bushing 24' is preferably for oscillation on Rotatably mounted for oscillation on shaft 13,

3 eries surrounding the two openin s 23 and 24 of plate i4, so as to project light throughsuch openings. from bulbs 21 mounted at the small end of each reflector. A spiral spring 28 is interposed between each filament bulb 2i and a metal strip 28' attached to the inside face of the rear closure l2, and suitable other electrical connections are provided between such bulbs and the switch mechanism generally indicated at "C" mounted in the handle. and hereinafter described.

For oscillating each of the filters 15, I6, l1 and it, there is provided a set of mechanism which is identical for each of such filters, and hence only" one such set of mechanism will be described in detail. a

The set of mechanism includes means for moving the filter into operative or in-operative position, and means for releasably holding the filter in either such operative or in-operative positions.

The means for moving the filter includes a lever 29 having its outer end provided with a finger piece 80, and having its inner end 3| projecting through a slot 32 formed in the reversely bent body portion 32 of a wire having its terminal portions 320 and 32b bent at right angles to such body portion and secured to the filter face by means of lugs 82c and 32d, respectively.

The means for releasably holding the filterin operative or in-operative position, includes a spring 34 shown as of semi-circularconfiguration,

with one end ll of such spring fitting in a notch 86 in the inside of the housing Ill, and the other end 31 secured to a lug mounted on the face of the filter, while a stop pin 80 limits the swin of the plates or filters. I

The switch mechanism, referred to above generally as "0, includes a trigger 39 fulcrumed in the handle 40 so as to rock upwardly one end 4l of pivoted arm 42 and simultaneously depress the opposite end 43 of such arm, thereby compressing spring 44 and forcing contact 45 against contact 48, thus completing the circuit to light the bulbs 21.

For locking the trigger 39 in either contactmaking or contact-breaking position, there is provided a set screw 41 projecting through a side wall 48 of the handle 40, at a point where the chamfered end 48' of such set screw will engage the hardened steel insert 49 mounted in the trigger, thus permitting such set screw to engage the insert either to hold the trigger in circuit-making or circuit-breaking position.

Fig. 12 shows a front plate I l which is so mounted that it may be rotated into any angular relationship with respect to the filters and reflectors, so that the beaded portions shown may be shifted completely into, and out of register with the beams of light, or into any intermediate position relative thereto. This plate is shown made of transparent material and at diametrically opposite points, such limited areas 5|, shown circular but if desired occupying up to a full quadrant, are covered by a layer of tiny transparent I heads ii to produce a diffusing or dispersing action on the beam of light projected therethrough from the bulbs 21.

The preferred method is to incorporate modifying means in a transparent front plate (modifying means may be beads, lenses, or similar refraction. elements) and could also include stops (similar to camera stops) to reduce the volume of the light.

Whereas the plates I5, ii I1 and I8 preferably also would carry color filters, now it is recognized assa'oss the plates ll, l6." and Iil'may carry modifying elements and the front plate may carry polarizing or other filters.

The basis of selecting the location of the various elements will be determined :by the operator's convenience. An element requiring more or less permanent attention would probably be the front plate, while an element expected to be thrown frequently in or out of the light beam would be applied to the oscillatable plates Hi to Hi.

Instead of being thus fixedly positioned, plate 1 H may be angularly positioned, in order that a greater or less area of such beaded area may be interposed in the path of the light beam, thus giving varying degrees of diffusion of the transmitted beam of light. By reason of such rotative mounting, the plate I I may be turned so that none of such beaded area is interposed in the path of the light beam, in which case the light through the aligned openings of the filters in Fig, 18 would be projected through the un-beaded portion of the plate I I, thus without any diffusing effect on the transmitted light beam.

The purpose of the tell-tale is to indicate to the operator whether his operation of the trigger is being transmitted, it being noted that the telltale is a periscopic device to indicate whether the signal gun is operating.

Another function of the tell-tale is to transmit to the operator the color of any light which is projected through a color filter, so that the accuracy of operation may be assured.

The tell-tale comprises a piece 55 which is preferably a length of transparent, light-conducting plastic, to each end of which has been applied faces 56 and 51 at such an angle that it will reflect a beam of light entering the rod perpendicular to its axis and lying in a plane containing both the axis and slim perpendicular to so the angular face.

The two faces 56 and 51 are arranged perpendicularly to each other. The assembly is located in such relation to the housing In that the inner end 56 projects into the path of the projected beam of light and thus crosses the boundary zone b-b of the light emanating from a lamp 2'! and intercepts such light, thus a ray a from the lamp 2! is incident on the face 56 and is reflected so as to be transmitted along the main axis of the rod upwardly until it intercepts face 51 where it is again reflected and projected toward c back into the operator's vision.

The parts 58 and 59 are ordinary convenientmechanical means for locating and holding rod 55 in its proper relationship to the lamps.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 9, a rear ring sight 80 is mounted on the top side of the housing, adiacent the rear end thereof, and as shown in Fig. 16 is provided with internal ridges 8|, such as may be formed by threading, for the purpose of reducing glare by reducing the surface from which light may be reflected into the operator's eyes, indicated at 83 in Fig. 11.

The purpose of reducing glare is accomplished by a reduction in the horizontal area parallel to the line of sight, as indicated by 63in Fig. 17.

As shown in F18. 14, a metal battery case 65 is attached bystraps 65 and 61 to the handle 40 by any suitable means.

For permitting, access to the interior of the case, and permit replacement of' the battery therein, a cover 68 is detachably secured to the case by cooperating spring clips 69 mounted on the case and cover.

that these positions may be exchanged, so that -Secured to the outer face of the cover 68 are Consistent with such three-reflector modifica- 40 tion, each of the filters has three opening? therein, and Fig. 13 shows one of these filters Ii-provided with three openings 16,- 11 and 18, shown in full lines as being equally angularly spaced.

Similarly as in the preferred form of Fig. 9,

.there is provided a set of mechanism (identical .with that of Fig. 9) for moving the filter into operative or in-operative position and also for releasably holding the filter in either such operative or in -operative position. 1 In Fig. 13.'as in Fig. 9.

dotted lines show the positions of the various parts after being shifted from their respective full-line positions.

The operation of the preferred form of my invention may be more readily understood by reference to Fig. 18 in connection with the other figures of the drawings.

Thus, in the relative positions of the parts shown in Fig. 18, beams of light from the refiecemanating beam of light will be dispersed redcolored, by reason of the beam of light passing through the red-colored portion of suchfilter.

similarly, any one or more of the other filters may be shifted to give the desired color of light beam from one color filter or from blending of two or more color filters shifted into the path of the beams.

1 It is to be noted that the foregoing brief de-- scription of operation is predicated upon the "duplex" form of the invention, in which each filter has two openings therein, which are nonconcentric relative to the axis of the filter and are diametrically oppositely positioned in said filter, andare equally spaced from such axis of tors are projected through the aligned openings m of the filters (two filters only being shown in the interest of clearness and to avoid possible confusion if attempting to include all four shown in Fig. i, or more or less than four if desired) and through the beaded portions of the front plate.

Hence, in such Fig. 18 relation of the parts, the emergent beam of light is characterized first by being uncolored .(by reason or going through the aligned openings of all the color filters) and sec- 0nd by being diffused or dispersed after going through the beaded portions of the front plate.

Instead of the just-described emanating disparsed uncolored beam of light, it will be apparent that an emanating undisperscd uncolored 1g beam of light will result from leaving the reflector plate and filters all in the same relative positions as in Fig. 18, but rotatably shifting the front plate sumciently to move the beaded areas into the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 18, so, go

or degree of dispersion of the light emanating from the signal light,

Obviously. also, instead of the un-beaded area of the front plate being clear and transparent, it may have any color or design or surface configuration on such front plate, thus giving partly dispersed and partly colored of any degree or any other combination desired. I

So much for the possible edects from shifting the front plate. 7

Obviously, other various effects can be obtained, as for example, if all the parts are left in the same relative positions as shown in Fig. 18, except to rotate filter ll so that its openings are shifted into the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 18. Assuming the filter is red, then the the filter.

Similarly, the front closure has its two beaded areas located non-concentrically relative to the central axis of the housing anddiametrically oppositely positioned on said closure and are equally spaced from such axis.

Similarly, also, the two reflectors are non-concentric relative to the axis of the housing and diametrically oppositely positioned relative to such axis and equally spaced from such axis.

By reason of the similarity of positioning of these parts just referred to, the beaded areas of the front closure can be aligned with the openings in each filter and with the reflectors, to permit the passage of beams of light, as indicated in Fig.

120 degrees from each other, but are equally spaced from, and non-concentric with, the axis of the housing.

The advantage of the triplex over the duplex is in the amount of light produced. If two lights give illumination of 10,000 foot-candles, three will give 15,000, 4 lights will give 20,000, etc. The amount of light is increased in direct proportion to the number of reflectors used. There is a limit, however, to the number of reflectors used, the limit on it being the size suitable for portability and taking into consideration the size of power supply needed.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a signal light having the advantage of a plurality of basic units of individual sources of light and reflectors, and by proper disposition of these basic units, have made possible the incorporation into a portable light, of filtering, polarizin or other modifying devices by convenient rather than cumbersome means, whereby filters, for example, may be so placed as to be instantly operable by the thumb of the hand to indicate to the operator not only that the light is on or off, but also the color transmitted,

while the overall efficiency of my signal light is contributed to by the self-contained power-supply cooperating with the positively-locking, wearresisting trigger mechanism, including the hardened pin and cooperating set screw, for holding the trigger positively, yet quickly releasable, in

either on or oif posltion for any period of time desired, and yet adapted for rapid making and breaking of the light circuit in sending dots statutes, 1 have illustrated and described the best embodiment of my invention now known to me,

- it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the subject matter and form of the invention disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Although described herein as'made of plastic, the tell-tale may be made of glass where weight or breakage is not a controlling factor, and used any place where rays of light are concealed from the vision of airplane pilot or any operator.

I claim:

1. In a signal light, a housing, a source of light, a reflector for such source of light, such housing being provided with a front closure of transparent material having a limited area thereof covered by a layer of tiny transparent beads to produce a diffusing or dispersing effect on the beam of light projected therethrough from said source of light, said closure being rotatively adjustable so that a greater or less area of such beaded area may be interposed into the path of the light, thus giving varying degrees of diffusion of transmitted light.

.2. In a signal light as set forth in claim 1 wherein the beaded area is non-concentric relative to the axis of said front closure.

3. In a signal light as set forth in claim 1 wherein the beaded area is non-concentric rela-- 5. A portable signal light comprising a housing, a plurality of sources of light mounted nonconoentrically and diametrically oppositely positioned and equally spaced from the central axis of said housing, a light modifying medium oscillatably mounted in said housing and having nonconcentric openings diametrically oppositely positioned and equally spaced from the central axis of said housing. said medium being oscillatable to bring said openings into alisnmentwith said sources of light, for permitting beams of light to be projected from said sources of light through said openings.

6. A portable signal light comprising a housing, a plurality of sources of light mounted nonconcentrically and diametrically oppositely positioned and equally spaced from the central axis of said housing, a light modifying medium osv cillatably mounted in said housing and having non-concentric openings diametrically opposite- 'ly positioned and equally spaced from the central axis of said housing, a front closure having a plurality of beaded areas non-concentrically and diametrically oppositely positioned and equally spaced from the central axis of said housing, said medium being oscillatable to bring said openings into alignment with said sources of light, for permitting beams of light be to projected from said sources of light through said openings, and said front closure being rotatively movable to bring said beaded areas into or out of alignment with said beams of light.

7. A light projecting device comprising a support member, a plurality of light sources mounted in said support member, a light modifying medium oscillatable in said support member for varying the effect of such medium on a beam of light from said light source and a front closure having an area of transparent beads thereon, said front closure being rotatively movable to bring said beaded area into and out of the paths of such beams of light. r

' RAYMOND L. FALGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

